9 New Names From The WI Prep Dig Top 250 Expo
Ok, you’ve got 2 hours to watch over 100 players. Where do you start? This year I wanted to start by really trying to see the names I didn’t know. I love seeing new players play live and finding the unknown players that…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOk, you’ve got 2 hours to watch over 100 players. Where do you start? This year I wanted to start by really trying to see the names I didn’t know. I love seeing new players play live and finding the unknown players that really need to be known! Let’s take a look at some of the new names that caught my attention at the 2019 Wisconsin Prep Dig Top 250 Expo.
Elayna Christensen Elayna Christensen 5'10" | DS/L Freedom | 2023 State WI – 2023 – 5’9 – Libero – Freedom
Freedom has been building a strong program, and it seems like it will be strong for years to come with players like Christensen coming up. I hadn’t heard of Christensen, but I was impressed with her low flat serve. She was really solid in her coverage and communication with her hitters. Christensen had a solid platform, poised, and great movement in the back court.
Ella Buddenhagen Ella Buddenhagen 5'11" | OH Kimberly | 2022 State WI – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Kimberly – FC Elite 16 Navy
Buddenhagen doesn’t hold anything back when she takes a fast swing with a solid contact to hammer the line. She will be fun to watch develop over the club season before stepping into a big leadership role for Kimberly when Courtney Pearson Courtney Pearson 5'10" | OH Kimberly | 2020 State WI , Maddy Pearson Maddy Pearson 5'11" | S Kimberly | 2020 State WI (UW-Oshkosh commit), and Carlee Doering Carlee Doering 5'11" | MB Kimberly | 2020 State WI graduate. Buddenhagen was a consistent contributor for Kimberly, a D1 powerhouse in the Fox Valley, with over 200 kills in her sophomore year.
Kya Gahiji Kya Gahiji 5'8" | OH Sheboygan North | 2023 State WIKya Gahiji Kya Gahiji 5'8" | OH Sheboygan North | 2023 State WI – 2023 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Sheboygan North
Gahiji is a 5’8 freshman from Sheboygan North. She has a high contact point, solid block and sees the block well. Gahiji also was a master at hitting the 1 corner and working a number of angles.
Lily Schuetz Lily Schuetz OH Lakeside Lutheran | 2022 State WI – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Lakeside Lutheran
Just a sophomore, Schuetz is definitely one to keep an eye on as she progresses during the next couple crucial club years and her high school seasons as an upperclassman. She has a fast-heavy swing and great use of her core. Schuetz also made some great hustle plays to catch my attention! Lakeside Lutheran had a balanced roster resulting in 36 wins this year. With the graduation of Ella Collins Ella Collins S Lakeside Lutheran | 2020 State WI (Eastern Illinois commit), Schuetz, an athletic 5’10 outside hitter, will be able to step into an even bigger role for the Warriors and provide a nice 1-2 punch with Peyton Kuepers (2021 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker).
Maddy Fortune Maddy Fortune 5'8" | S McFarland | 2022 State WI
Maddy Fortune Maddy Fortune 5'8" | S McFarland | 2022 State WI – 2022 – 5’9 – Setter – McFarland
A solid setter is a game changer for any team, and Lizzy Fortune Lizzy Fortune S McFarland | 2020 State WI was exactly that for McFarland this fall. Maddy is the younger of the Fortune sisters and would be the next in line to run the Spartan offense. At 5’9, good footwork, and nice hands, Maddy helped her team to 37 wins and silver ball trophy. At the Top 250, she was able to show her ability to execute a nicely timed setter dump as well. Hopefully, Fortune can get some exposure as an all-around athlete who can feed her teammates this club season.
Maya Wegand Maya Wegand 5'7" | OH Little Chute | 2023 State WI – 2023 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Little Chute
Wegand shows a lot of athleticism and takes a heck of a swing from the pin. She is a smaller attacker, but she can jump, and an expo like this was perfect for her to be seen by a variety of college level coaches. Wegand works the corners and gets a nice high snap. She has a fast swing and great use of her core. This past fall Wegand averaged almost 2 kills per set and recorded over 200 digs as a freshman for Little Chute.
Meghan Scholz Meghan Scholz 6'3" | MB Tomahawk | 2023 State WI – 2023 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Tomahawk
I tried to spot players early when they were playing queens, since those games show off all-around skill. Scholz jumped out as someone athletic with a lot of potential. She is 6’1 and only a freshman, which you don’t see a lot of. Scholz has a fast contact and swing down the line and targets the corners. Tomahawk has some really solid young up-and-coming talent!
Rylee Duessler Rylee Duessler 5'9" | OH Waterloo | 2023 State WI
Rylee Duessler Rylee Duessler 5'9" | OH Waterloo | 2023 State WI – 2023 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Waterloo
Duessler definitely looks like she has been playing with some of the top players in the high school game, such as Brooke Mosher Brooke Mosher 5'11" | S Waterloo | 2021 State WI (Illinois Commit). At 5’8 she has a nice swing out of the back court.When watching her play in some games of Queens, she was able to show off her hustle for the shanked pass and relentless pursuit. Duessler is athletic and has a solid swing, making her one to keep an eye out for.
Taia Hodgkinson – 2023 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker – Janesville Craig – Rock Volleyball Club 15’s
At 5’10, Hodgkinson is athletic and dynamic. She showed off her hustle on defense to keep balls alive, which you don’t see a lot of middles focusing on. Hodgkinson has a high contact point, nice snap, and the tools to lead her high school team to a new level.